Wearing nail polish during prayer in Islam is generally considered impermissible (haram) because it interferes with the obligatory ritual ablution (wudu).
The Importance of Ablution (Wudu)
Ablution is a prerequisite for prayer. It involves washing specific parts of the body with water to achieve a state of ritual purity. This includes:
- Washing the face
- Washing the arms up to the elbows
- Wiping the head
- Washing the feet up to the ankles
Nail Polish as a Barrier
According to Islamic rulings, for the ablution to be valid, water must come into direct contact with the skin and nails. Nail polish creates a waterproof barrier that prevents water from reaching the nail bed. As stated in the reference, "Nail polish prevents water from touching the nail. This invalidates ablution, a requirement of prayer. If nail polish is on, water can't touch the nail bed. This makes the ablution and prayer invalid. To protect prayers, nail polish should not be worn daily."
Summary
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Invalid Ablution | Nail polish acts as a barrier preventing water from reaching the nails during ablution. |
| Requirement of Direct Water Contact | Ablution requires water to directly touch the skin and nails, which nail polish obstructs. |
| Invalid Prayer | If ablution is invalid due to nail polish, the subsequent prayer performed is also considered invalid. |
In essence, since prayer is a fundamental obligation in Islam and requires valid ablution, anything that impedes the proper performance of ablution, such as nail polish, is avoided.
